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Death of George WashingtonIn this article, we will see how the former American President died of a severe sore throat. Yes, we know it sounds unlikely that he died because of a sore throat, but just read how the doctors treated him. Could this medical treatment have been the cause of his death? Here is what happened... Excerpt from the book Homeopathy in America by Kaufman; the text is paragraphed for easy readability. Even George Washington, who received the best medical care of the day, spent his last hour undergoing heroic treatment. On December 14, 1799, the former President came down with a severe sore throat. It was inflamed and gave him some difficulty in breathing. His overseer removed a pint of blood, but it provided no relief. A physician was called who soon after his arrival applied a blister to the throat and let another pint of blood. At three o'clock in the afternoon, two other doctors came to consult with the first one, and by a vote of two to one, they decided to let more blood, removing a quart at that time. They reported that the blood flowed "slow and thick." By then the President was dehydrated, and it would seem that the doctors must have had to squeeze out the final drops of blood. Washington died sometime between ten and eleven that same night. In his case, heroic treatment consisted of removal of at least four pints of blood, blistering, and a dose of calomel. Perhaps he would have died in any case, but the treatment certainly provided no relief. Also Read:
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